Mobile terminal and method of controlling a mode switching therein

• US 8,831,567 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Dongwoo, Bae, Heejung, Choo, Chunghun, Kim, Ki Seo, Kim, Hyehyun, Lee, Jooyong, Cho, Hyunah
• Primary Examiner(s): Hua, Quan M
• Application Number:
  US13/161,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/566, 455/411, 4554141-4144, 455/418, 455/466, 345/661, 726 1- 36, 718/108, 713/100, 715744-747
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/71 to assure secure computing or processing of information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one external terminal; a memory configured to store at least first and second operating systems including at least first and second modes, respectively; and a controller configured to execute the first operating system and to activate the first mode corresponding to the first operating system, to display a first information screen on a display unit corresponding to the activated first mode, to receive a switching signal indicating the first mode is to be switched to the second mode, to attempt to switch to the second mode based on the received switching signal, and to restrict a specific application executing in the first mode when the second mode is not switched to.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one external terminal;

a memory configured to store a first operating system acting in a first mode and a second operating system acting in a second mode, respectively; and

a controller configured to;

execute the first operating system and activate the first mode corresponding to the first operating system,

display a first information screen on a display unit corresponding to the activated first mode,

receive a switching signal indicating the first mode is to be switched to the second mode,

in response to the switching signal, prompt a user to confirm the first mode is to be switched to the second mode,

attempt to switch to the second mode based on the confirmation of the user,

prompt the user to confirm an authentication process is to be performed for the second mode,

receive a failing signal indicating the second mode is not switchable to the first mode based on the authentication process,

restrict at least one specific application executing in the first mode when the failing signal is received indicating the second mode is not switched to the first mode,

wherein the first mode is executed only with the first operating system and the second mode is executed only with the second operation system,

wherein the first mode is a private mode corresponding to applications executed in a user'"'"'s personal life and the second mode is business mode corresponding to applications executed in the user'"'"'s business life,

wherein the first mode includes a plurality of first applications executable in the first mode and the second mode includes a plurality of second applications executable in the second mode, and

wherein when the second mode is not switched to and the first mode is maintained, the touchscreen display displays at least one specific application included in the plurality of first applications that is restricted from being executed in the maintained first mode.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second modes are discriminated from each other by at least one of a mode indicator, a database storage region, a user access authority, a content configuration, a data configuration and an application feature.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein when the first and second modes respectively correspond to first and second database storage regions, the controller is further configured to prevent information stored in the first database storage region from being used in the second mode and to prevent information stored in the second database storage region from being used in the first mode, or to prevent selective information stored in the first or second database storage regions from being used in the first or second modes.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured not to switch the first mode to the second mode when at least one of the switching signal is not received and an authentication procedure for the second mode is not validly performed.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to prohibit the execution of specific applications among the plurality of first applications that can be executed in the first mode except a basic application supporting a basic terminal action, when the attempt to switch to the second mode fails.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein if the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the specific application is currently executing and the specific application can only be executed in first mode, the controller is further configured to terminate the execution of the specific application, and

wherein if the currently executing specific application is executable in both of the first and second modes, the controller is further configured to restrict information provided by the currently executing specific application despite maintaining the executing of the first mode.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein if the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display an announcement window for announcing the second mode can not be switched to and provide an option for again trying to switch to the second mode.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein if the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the controller is further configured to control the display unit to display at least one or more application indicators indicating at least one or more applications that can be executed in the first mode or not to display at least one or more display application indicators indicating at least or more applications than can not be executed in the first mode.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the switching signal is generated in at least one of 1) when receiving an input of the switching signal, 2) when a current terminal location is located within a specific place corresponding to the second mode, 3) when a current time belongs to a specific time corresponding to the second mode, 4) when transceiving data with a counterpart terminal corresponding to the second mode, and 5) when accessing a specific network corresponding to the second mode.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to switch back to the first mode from the second mode by reactivating the first mode and deactivating the second mode when a terminal operation corresponding to the switching signal is terminated after switching to the second mode.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein if information on the specific application is included in the switching signal, the controller is further configured to execute the specific application after switching to the second mode.

12. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

allowing, via a communication unit of the mobile terminal, communication with at least one external terminal;

storing, via a memory of the mobile terminal, a first operating system acting in a first mode and a second operating system acting in a second mode, respectively;

executing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, the first operating system and activating the first mode corresponding to the first operating system;

displaying, via a display unit of the mobile terminal, a first information screen corresponding to the activated first mode;

receiving, via the controller, a switching signal indicating the first mode is to be switched to the second mode;

in response to the switching signal, prompting, via the controller, a user to confirm the first mode is to be switched to the second mode;

attempting, via the controller, to switch to the second mode based on the confirmation of the user;

prompting, via the controller, the user to confirm an authentication process is to be performed for the second mode;

receiving, via the controller, a failing signal indicating the second mode is not switchable to the first mode based on the authentication process; and

restricting, via the controller, at least one specific application executing in the first mode when the failing signal is received indicating the second mode is not switched to the first mode,

wherein the first mode is executed only with the first operating system and the second mode is executed only with the second operation system,

wherein the first mode is a private mode corresponding to applications executed in a user'"'"'s personal life and the second mode is business mode corresponding to applications executed in the user'"'"'s business life,

wherein the first mode includes a plurality of first applications executable in the first mode and the second mode includes a plurality of second applications executable in the second mode, and

wherein when the second mode is not switched to and the first mode is maintained, the method further comprises displaying at least one specific application included in the plurality of first applications that is restricted from being executed in the maintained first mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second modes are discriminated from each other by at least one of a mode indicator, a database storage region, a user access authority, a content configuration, a data configuration and an application feature.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein when the first and second modes respectively correspond to first and second database storage regions, the method further comprises preventing information stored in the first database storage region from being used in the second mode and preventing information stored in the second database storage region from being used in the first mode, or preventing selective information stored in the first or second database storage regions from being used in the first or second modes.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

not switching, via the controller, the first mode to the second mode when at least one of the switching signal is not received and an authentication procedure for the second mode is not validly performed.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

prohibiting, via the controller, the execution of specific applications among the plurality of first applications that can be executed in the first mode except a basic application supporting a basic terminal action, when the attempt to switch to the second mode fails.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein if the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the specific application is currently executing and the specific application can only be executed in first mode, the method further comprises terminating the execution of the specific application, and

wherein if the currently executing specific application is executable in both of the first and second modes, the method further comprises restricting information provided by the currently executing specific application despite maintaining the executing of the first mode.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein if the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the method further comprises displaying, via the display unit, an announcement window for announcing the second mode can not be switched to and providing an option for again trying to switch to the second mode.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein if the attempt to switch to the second mode fails, the method further comprises displaying at least one or more application indicators indicating at least one or more applications that can be executed in the first mode or not displaying at least one or more display application indicators indicating at least or more applications than can not be executed in the first mode.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the switching signal is generated in at least one of 1) when receiving an input of the switching signal, 2) when a current terminal location is located within a specific place corresponding to the second mode, 3) when a current time belongs to a specific time corresponding to the second mode, 4) when transceiving data with a counterpart terminal corresponding to the second mode, and 5) when accessing a specific network corresponding to the second mode.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

switching back to the first mode from the second mode by reactivating the first mode and deactivating the second mode when a terminal operation corresponding to the switching signal is terminated after switching to the second mode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein if information on the specific application is included in the switching signal, the method further comprises executing the specific application after switching to the second mode.